"Judy" <> wrote in message
news:17ba01c4c1d2$9b83de20$...
>I was wondering what's the best way to start taking the
> MCSD exams. Is it good to start with elective exams first
> and go to the core exams. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Judy

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>-----Original Message-----
>I was wondering what's the best way to start taking the
>MCSD exams. Is it good to start with elective exams first
>and go to the core exams. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I would suggest do 70-229 first because you will need to
know SQL anyway.

The you do the Windows or Web apps, depending on your
experience

After that you do Web Services exam.

At the end the Architecture one.

The .NET exams have lots in common: try first to
understand what .NET Framework is, ADO.NET, learn about
security and delployment. Then you study for each exam's
specifics.
>Thanks,
>Judy

"Danut P." wrote:
> >-----Original Message-----
> >I was wondering what's the best way to start taking the
> >MCSD exams. Is it good to start with elective exams first
> >and go to the core exams. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> I would suggest do 70-229 first because you will need to
> know SQL anyway.
>
> The you do the Windows or Web apps, depending on your
> experience
>
> After that you do Web Services exam.
>
> At the end the Architecture one.
>
> The .NET exams have lots in common: try first to
> understand what .NET Framework is, ADO.NET, learn about
> security and delployment. Then you study for each exam's
> specifics.
>
> >Thanks,
> >Judy
>
> Danut
> MCSD.NET Early Achiever
> MCAD Charter Member
> MCDBA
> SCJP
> MCSD VC6
> MCP
>
>
>
>
>

In my case, I started with the subject that interested me most and that
I knew relatively little about, .Net Solution Architect. I like to
learn new things, so it gave me an insentive to study. I don't know
that I would recommend starting with that exam though. Now I am stuck
having to take all five exams before I get either my MCAD or MCSD.
Tod Birdsall, MCPhttp://tod1d.blogspot.com

"Cindy Winegarden" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi Tod,
>
> I'm confused. I thought 70-300, "Analyzing Requirements and Defining
> Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures" was one of the required exams for
> MCSD. Are you talking about some other exam?
>

I think he means that since he has already taken 70-300, to get his MCAD, he
will have taken all the required exams plus 70-300. I think he is under the
impression that the four exams are required for MCAD, and that you take
70-300 to go from MCAD to MCSD.

I can understand where this confusion comes from, because I have seen this
misconception before. I even have an Osborne MCAD/MCSD that says this. It
made the mistake in saying you needed a Windows Apps AND a Web Apps exam
instead of saying you need one OR the other for MCAD.

"Schfooge" <> wrote:
>
>"Cindy Winegarden" <> wrote in message
>news:...
>> Hi Tod,
>>
>> I'm confused. I thought 70-300, "Analyzing Requirements and Defining
>> Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures" was one of the required exams for
>> MCSD. Are you talking about some other exam?
>>
>
>I think he means that since he has already taken 70-300, to get his MCAD, he
>will have taken all the required exams plus 70-300. I think he is under the
>impression that the four exams are required for MCAD, and that you take
>70-300 to go from MCAD to MCSD.
>
>I can understand where this confusion comes from, because I have seen this
>misconception before. I even have an Osborne MCAD/MCSD that says this. It
>made the mistake in saying you needed a Windows Apps AND a Web Apps exam
>instead of saying you need one OR the other for MCAD.
>

Actually he maneuvered himself into this position by

a. taking 70-300 first
b. taking 70-320 last

70-300 does not contribute to the MCAD credential, meanwhile
70-310/70-320 is mandatory for the MCAD (no substutitions
allowed). Hence he will obtain the MCAD and MCSD.NET
credentials at the same time. By simply swapping his last
two choices (70-229 and 70-320) he could achieved his MCAD
earlier.

"UAError" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "Schfooge" <> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Cindy Winegarden" <> wrote in message
>>news:...
>>> Hi Tod,
>>>
>>> I'm confused. I thought 70-300, "Analyzing Requirements and Defining
>>> Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures" was one of the required exams for
>>> MCSD. Are you talking about some other exam?
>>>
>>
>>I think he means that since he has already taken 70-300, to get his MCAD,
>>he
>>will have taken all the required exams plus 70-300. I think he is under
>>the
>>impression that the four exams are required for MCAD, and that you take
>>70-300 to go from MCAD to MCSD.
>>
>>I can understand where this confusion comes from, because I have seen this
>>misconception before. I even have an Osborne MCAD/MCSD that says this. It
>>made the mistake in saying you needed a Windows Apps AND a Web Apps exam
>>instead of saying you need one OR the other for MCAD.
>>
>
> Actually he maneuvered himself into this position by
>
> a. taking 70-300 first
> b. taking 70-320 last
>
> 70-300 does not contribute to the MCAD credential, meanwhile
> 70-310/70-320 is mandatory for the MCAD (no substutitions
> allowed). Hence he will obtain the MCAD and MCSD.NET
> credentials at the same time. By simply swapping his last
> two choices (70-229 and 70-320) he could achieved his MCAD
> earlier.0

Actaully, he should still be able to get his MCAD first.
I took a peek at his blog, and his order is:

1. 70-300 (already taken)
2. 70-315
3. 70-316
4. 70-229
5. 70-320

Seeing as he only needs one of 70-315 & 70-316 for MCAD, he can leave one of
these to the end and get his MCAD after his fourth exam, and get his MCSD
when he writes the fifth. MCSD only requires 3 exams altogether, so there
is no way to get yourself painted into a corner where you have to take 4
more exams to get your MCAD.

You are right in saying that if he continues to leave an exam he has to take
for both as his last exam (ie. 70-320 or 310), then he won't get either
cert until after the fifth exam. However, it seems to me that he is still
able to change the order of his exams to get the MCAD after 4 - unless he
has already written 1-4 and 70-320 is the only one he has left.

"Schfooge" <> wrote:
>Seeing as he only needs one of 70-315 & 70-316 for MCAD, he can leave one of
>these to the end and get his MCAD after his fourth exam, and get his MCSD
>when he writes the fifth. MCSD only requires 3 exams altogether, so there
>is no way to get yourself painted into a corner where you have to take 4
>more exams to get your MCAD.
>
>You are right in saying that if he continues to leave an exam he has to take
>for both as his last exam (ie. 70-320 or 310), then he won't get either
>cert until after the fifth exam. However, it seems to me that he is still
>able to change the order of his exams to get the MCAD after 4 - unless he
>has already written 1-4 and 70-320 is the only one he has left.
>
If you look at his blog you'll see that already completed
70-300, 70-315, and 70-316. Furthermore he stated that the
order that he listed the exams was also the order that he
"expects" to take the exams. He completed the first three
exams in about 3 months (not including preparation for the
first exam). Its been three months since his last exam. On
that I based the assumption that he probably has progressed
too far into his 70-229 preparation to want to switch to
70-320 - so that in fact he is committed to taking 70-229 as
no.4 and 70-320 as no.5.

I am about 3/4 through studying for 70-229. Based on what I had read, I
had assumed that I had painted myself into a corner. No difference, I
planned on taking all five.

I started to read the Exam Cram for 70-320, but I practically fell
asleep.
I don't normally use XML, but I use SQL on a daily basis, so that is
what made me to decide to take the 70-229 first.

I saved both of these exams for last becaus two of the people I know
who took their exams thought these were the hardest. So far, I feel
pretty comfortable with taking the 70-229.
Tod Birdsall, MCPhttp://tod1d.blogspot.com

Start of with web apps (70-305/315) or win apps (70-306/316), depending on
your background and then do the other. After that do Webservices Server
Components (70-310/320). Now you're done with .NET programming, choose your
electif being SQL, BizTalk Server or the new Security exam. Make sure to do
Analyzing Requirements (70-300) last, since this requires most experience.

HTH,

Pieter de Bruin
Avanade Netherlands
MCSD.NET

"Tod Birdsall" wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am about 3/4 through studying for 70-229. Based on what I had read, I
> had assumed that I had painted myself into a corner. No difference, I
> planned on taking all five.
>
> I started to read the Exam Cram for 70-320, but I practically fell
> asleep.
> I don't normally use XML, but I use SQL on a daily basis, so that is
> what made me to decide to take the 70-229 first.
>
> I saved both of these exams for last becaus two of the people I know
> who took their exams thought these were the hardest. So far, I feel
> pretty comfortable with taking the 70-229.
> Tod Birdsall, MCP
> http://tod1d.blogspot.com
>
>

70-320 seemed to me one of the easiest exam.
70-229 is hard indeed but one of the exams I enjoyed studying.

"Tod Birdsall" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi,
>
> I am about 3/4 through studying for 70-229. Based on what I had read, I
> had assumed that I had painted myself into a corner. No difference, I
> planned on taking all five.
>
> I started to read the Exam Cram for 70-320, but I practically fell
> asleep.
> I don't normally use XML, but I use SQL on a daily basis, so that is
> what made me to decide to take the 70-229 first.
>
> I saved both of these exams for last becaus two of the people I know
> who took their exams thought these were the hardest. So far, I feel
> pretty comfortable with taking the 70-229.
> Tod Birdsall, MCP
> http://tod1d.blogspot.com
>

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